Method of and apparatus for applying protecting-covering to piles.



J. B. Fox & H. L. HATGHBR. METHOD 0E' AND APPARATUS POR APPLYING PROTEGTING GOVEBING T0 PILES. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 9,*19'11.

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. J. P. Fox a. H.-L. HATGHER. n METHOD 0F AND APPARATUS PoR ABBLYING PROTECTING covERING To PILES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1911. 1,01 3,758, Patented Jan. 2,1912.

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invention, such as will enable othersA skilled s in the art to which it appertains tofniake and use thesame.

The present invention relates to a lmethod of and apparatus forapplying a protecting covering to piles orother sub-'aqueous struc'- tures subjected to the ravages of teredo in' fested waters, and has for its purpose to apply such coverings in a manner that lwill prolon the life of the pile and increase the stren t of the covering superior to that of any own or heretofore used method so far as we are aware. Y

The usual manner of applyin the protectin" material to piles or the li e consists in inc osing a space surrounding the pile,

centeringl vthe same with respect thereto,v

then applying the protecting material by ydumping the same into the annular space, allowing itto fall by gravity through the water in said space and to settle on the mud bottom; but this 4method has the disadvantages that this mud bottom is liable in time to wash awa and Aleave the pile exposed; and further t e protecting material in fgpassingvv through the water is widely separated or disintegrated and s tratifies when settled. In other words materiall deposited inv this manner does no strength desired. 'To overcome -thes'e disadvantages is the especial object of the present invention, and

. to 'that end we contemplate removing the mud bottom from within the'inc1osure and delivering the concrete or other protect-ing substance in a solid mass to the Ispace thus provided and causing it to be uniformly deposited `around thepile. v For carrying the foregoing operation into ed that is simwhichlnlay be sedjndenitely.

While" the invention is not restricted to the' exact details shown Iand described, still t have the cohesion 'orf ,for the purpose 'of eiseisur reference is Yhad to the 'accompanying drawings, in which like reference charactersdesignate the same parts, in the fs'everal'views and in which :*v

Figure lis acentra'l sectional view of aportionof the apparatus showing the conveyer in elevation. Fig. 2 is a broken top plan view of Fig. `1 taken on the line 2 2. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, lpartl brokenaway, showing 'they apparatus assein led and in applied position. 'Fig 4 is atransverse sec# tional view,l` lartlyin elevation and with the conveyer omitted, lo'f-Fig. 3. Fig. 5 .is a top plan view of the band connection and releasying device. Fig. 6 is aside elevationthereo'f. Fig. 7; is a top plan )view of the permanent and adjustable bandconnection. Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 9 is an elevation showing the'construction of the conveyer buckets vdrop bottom. Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view of the bottom portion of the conveyer, and; 11 illustrates the'apparatus complete and 1n position for applying the protecting covering to a pile.

Referring to the construction in detail and with like reference charactersindicating correspondingparts in the different Iigures shown, the apparatus consists in a tubular like structure `assembled `to .inclose `an annular space surroundinga pile l or other sub-aqueous structure ltohave a protecting covering applied. Said ltubular structure consistsof a bottom section 2 formed of a 4pair ofsemi-circular .wooden forms that are held assembled through the ,medium of a collaro'f segmental sections 3 vand a band or strap 4. The vband 4 isnin two parts having the ends 5 thereo'ffunitedby a permanent coupling which consists in aring 6, an angular piece 7, and a 'threaded eye bolt 8. The desired adjustment of the band is secured by the adjusting nut 9. The opposite ends o f vthe band 4 are 'adapted to be detachably connected whereby saidv band may be remedium of a line 14a secured at one end of the lever 14. `The lower section 2 is designed to be driven for a suitable depth into the mud bottom or bed and is thereafter intended to be abandoned, although, of

course, the a'ssemblingband 4 above referred to may bejrecovered. The lower section 2 provides the support or foundation for the remaining structure, and for centering this structure with' respect to the pile 1 said lower section isL designed to be provided with a suitable'number of blocks or other spacing members 16. The sections 17 supported bythe lower sections 2 are in like manner constructed of wood and are also of semi-circular `design in cross section. At their opposite ends the sections 17 are each provided with an integral and angularly disposed beveled collar or flange 18, and the upper edge of the lower Section 2 is in like manner constructed. The continuous collar 18 of anA upper section is designed to rest upon the upper collar 18 on the adjacent edge of the next lower section, and for holding said sections in super-posed alinement a band 4, also employed here, is provided with a plurality of Wedge blocks 19 which are designed complementary to and embrace t-he beveled collars 18. The Wedge blocks 19 are strung upon the bandsections 4 and may be readily shifted thereon. By this manner of assembling the super-posed sections there is provided a water-tight joint which may be secured by tightening the bands and in this respect the invention is considered to f be novel in that the mud bottom within the inclosed space may be pumped out and the material delivered direct and en masse to its foundation, and not allowin it to fall any appreciable depth through t e water` which as above stated causes it to stratify. It is to be understood, however, that the invention contemplates the idea of also pumping out the water and 'delivering the material by carrying each load to the point of settlement out of contact with the water.

The apparatus for conveying the material consists in a bucket or carrier 20 which is designed semi-circular in cross section to conform with the space within which the same is designed to travel, 'and for the further purpose of having the material partially distributed after the form it would otherwise assume when settling. The object of this latter mentioned condition is that the successive loads of concrete or other substances used are deposited-in uniformly distributed layers to the end that better adhesion of the resultant solidified structure is obtained.

The bdttom of the bucket consists of-two arcuate sections 21 secured by hinges 22 to the bucket wall and the inner and outer edges 23 and 24 lo'fcsaid bottom portions have each the samelcontour Yas the corresponding edges of the ybucket walls. The bucket 20 is designed to be raised and lowered through the medium of a cord 25 having branches 26 that are attached to eye pieces 27 located on the upper edge of said bucket.y And the drop bottom sections 21 aredesigned to be manipulated through the medium of a similar arrangement consisting in a line 28 with branches 29 that are secured to said sections.

In the carrying out of the invention the casing or tubular structure is lowered down over the pile and then driven into the mud for a suitable distance, and is centered by lthe members 16 and additional means if necessary. A hose 80 is next let down into the space'between the casing and thepile and the mud pumped out by'a pump 31. The

bucket is next lowered filled with the con crete or other material, whichmaterial is then released into that `space previously occupied by the mud. The material is next lled in solid masses all around the pile ,up to the required height, and the depositing of the said material in such solid masses around the pile prevents it from being nely separated as above stated, which would be the case if it were lowered through the water by gravity or placed in the space between the casing and the pile by a hose from the top of the casing.. The result is the concrete material sets or hardens in masses which are more compact, and are therefore much strongei` than would be the case if the-concrete material were allowed to settle as mud down through the water. The concrete being thus solidified, forms an exceedingly strong casing or reinforcement for the pile and eventually it furnishes the main strength of the pile. We are thus enabled to use, cheaper material for the pile than would otherwise be the case, and at the same time our process provides an exceedingl inexpensive means for making( strong and durale piles in place. After the concrete has set, the bands 4 are unlocked in the manner above described, and the casing sections 17 being in the form ofhalf cylinders and pref-v erably well greased, they readily detach themselves and float u to the surface Where they may be recovere for using again.

It is obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the details of our invention without departing from the spiritthereof and therefore we do not wish to be limited to the above disclosure except as may be required by the claims. 4

1. The method of applying a protecting covering to piles consisting in inclosing a space surrounding the pile; pumping out the bed of said pile within'said space; and delivering loads of the protecting material en masse into said space and allowin the same to solidify, substantially as descried.'

solidify,

2. The method of applying a protecting covering to piles c onsisting in inclosing a space-surrounding the pile; pumping out the bed of said pile within 'said space; and lowering loads of the protecting material to the bottom of said space and releasing said loads en masse and allowing the same to substantially as described.

3. The method of applying a protecting covering to piles consisting in inclosing a water-tight space surrounding the p1le; pumping out the bed of said pile and water within said space; and lowering loads of the protecting material into said space and releasing said loads en masse and allowing the sameto solidify, substantially as described.'

4. In an apparatus for applying protecting coverings to piles, the combination of a sectional casing adapted to surround the pile a'nd be driven into the bed thereof;

means for pumping out the bed of the pile within said casing; and means for conveying loads of the protecting material to the'bottom of the space within said casing and releasing said loads en masse, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for applying protecting coverings to piles, the combinationfof a casing adapted to surround the pile comprising a plurality of superposed sections, i

each of said sections provided with beveled collars a-t the ends thereof; bands having wedge shaped y clamps adapted to engage said beveled collars and hold the sections in assembled relation to provide a water-.tight space; means for pumpingout the bed of the pile within said space; and means for conveying loads of the protecting material to the bottom of the space within said casing and releasing said loads in solid masses, substantially as described.l

. 6. In an apparatus for applying protecting coverings to piles, the combination of a casing adapted to surround the pile comprising a plurality of super-posed sections, each having beveled collars at the end-thereof; band sections hinged together atv one end having wedge shaped clamps adapted to engage said collars; a lever provided with locking means at the other end of said sections adapted to lock and unlock said bands;

g and means for operating said llever from a distance, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we aiix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN P. FOX. HENRY L. HATCHER. Witnesses:

` WM. E. MoELwAiN,

H. P. COBB. 

